Zero contact screw and ergonomic housing portioning device

ABSTRACT

A zero contact double screw and ergonomic double screw housing combination for foodstuff mixers and portioning devices. The system includes a multi-prong support segment at the discharge end of the double screw and double screw housing which connects and secures the double screw to the double screw housing to support and space the double screw apart from the surrounding double screw housing in a configuration which eliminates contact between the outer surface of the double screw and the inner surface of the double screw housing. The housing has an exterior portion with scooped out portions providing for substantially reduced thickness, volume, and mass, while remaining configured to provide durability and longevity of use similar to that of a screw housing that is substantially fully cylindrical throughout its diameter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. App. No. 63/223,411 filed Jul.19, 2021, which is entitled Zero Contact Double Screw Portioning Device,and which is incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to vacuum filling and portioning machinesfor the food processing industry. In particular, the invention relatesto essentially zero contact screw-highly ergonomic screw housing devicesfor use in such filling and portioning machines.

Two key components of such vacuum filling and portioning machines, whichwork in close tandem, are the heavy-duty multiple, usually double,screws or “worms” and the housing units in which such screws fit duringportioning, mixing, and filling of various foodstuffs such as sausages,vegetable mixes, doughs, and pet foods. The screw or worm units consistof rotating screws. Typically, one is a large, left-handed helical screwand one is a large right handed helical screw in which the two screwshanks of such a double screw are intimately entwined around each otherinside the housing unit in a substantially continuously double-curvedfashion and rotate in place within the cylindrical housing unit to grindup and mix such foodstuffs. The curved shank of each of the two halvesof the double screw, and their housing unit as a whole, are laid out ina substantially horizontal direction in relationship to the vacuumfiller machine as a whole. As the mixing and filler machine processesthe foodstuffs, parcels of food are pulled by vacuum pressure through anentrance hole into the housing unit and are mixed and massaged into apredetermined processed configuration before extrusion.

Moreover, as indicated, these screws or worms of the vacuum fillers arecontained within substantially cylindrical housing units which are alsoa key part of the overall processing systems used in the filling,extruding, and portioning of the variety of foodstuffs mentioned above.These screws and their housings (i.e., the actual elements which, intandem, process and portion foodstuffs), many of which originate fromthe German company known as Vemag Machinebau GmbH (hence, called Vemagfiller machines), need to be handled and then cleaned with greatfrequency in the food portioning and processing industry for sanitationconsiderations. Hence, any extra heaviness of such housing machineparts, which, e.g., in conventional screw housings generally registerwell above sixty pounds, is an important drawback to the ease and safetyof employee handling for such regularly manipulated and cleaned foodprocessing components.

The double screws have also traditionally been supported inside thehousing solely by a centering pin on the drive end, i.e., the end of thedouble screw attached to the drive motor.

However, due to their close contact and ongoing interaction, outwardpressures force the outer diameter of the double screws constantlyagainst the inner diameter of the double screw housing. This constantfriction between these two components causes immediate and ongoing wearand results in a metal on metal debilitating condition. Both the doublescrew and the housing units which contain them are thus continuouslyworn down, resulting in significant loss of useful life for both thedouble screw unit and the double screw housing unit.

In summary, the double screw and double screw housing components arevaluable pieces of equipment in a food processor's arsenal which havebeen used, almost unchanged, for approximately seventy years.

Accordingly, what is needed is an improved, essentially zero contactscrew portioning—ergonomic screw housing unit combination whoseinteraction substantially reduces any friction between the screwportioning and the screw housing units during extended use. Moreover, acombination is needed which, because of improved ergonomic design, has ahousing that is substantially lighter and is more readily handled byemployees and other users, yet maintains the durability, strength, andlongevity, as well as other highly regarded characteristics, of marketleading screw—screw housing unit combinations for the food processingindustry. Such improvements would thereby significantly improve both theuseful life and functionality of these key components in vacuum filling,mixing and portioning machines.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Applicant has developed an improved multiple screw and multiple screwhousing, hereinafter referred to by their most common forms, “doublescrew” plus “double screw housing” unit device for vacuum filler systemswhich provides for an essentially zero, reduced friction interactionbetween the double screw and the double screw housing unit. Moreover,the combination has been streamlined by the inclusion of anergonomically improved housing fitted to contain the portioning doublescrews. Such an ergonomically configured design carves out substantialexterior portions of the housing cylinder which added extensively to theoverall weight in prior art housing units. Thus, such ergonomicallyconfigured designs provide for substantially lighter screw-screw housingcombinations, yet ones which retain substantially the same durabilityand longevity given similar use and materials as conventional screwhousing units and thereby overcome the deficiencies of conventional, butmuch heavier units. The disclosure thus effectively overcomes the abovedeficiencies of prior double screw-screw housing units used in foodportioning devices.

In one aspect, a multiple screw-screw housing combination device isprovided which includes a multi-pronged (hereinafter referred to,representatively, as a cross-like) support segment at the discharge endof the double screw unit which connects the double screw to the doublescrew housing to support and space the double screw portions of thedevice apart from the surrounding double screw housing, and thus avoidor reduce contact between any portion of the outer diameter of thedouble screw and the inner diameter of the double screw housing. In theexemplary embodiment using a cross-like support segment, the segmentincludes a substantially vertical first cross portion with top andbottom halves to fit into notches located at the top and bottom of thedischarge end of the double screw housing. The cross-like supportsegment also includes a substantially horizontal second cross portionwith first and second lateral side portions, each of which defines abored hole for the insertion of a bolt. Shouldered bolts or otherconnectors are secured into the bored holes at the discharge end througheach of these bored holes. In turn, at the discharge end of each of thedouble screws is a mated hole for one of the lateral holes of thecross-like support. Thus, the shouldered bolts slide into the laterallyspaced bored holes of the cross-like support and into the mated holesat, e.g., the center of the discharge end of each of the double screwunits. Accordingly, this combination serves to center and secure thedouble screw units inside the double screw housing, aiding in providingsubstantially zero, or at least substantially reduced, metal to metalcontact between the double screw units and the double screw housingunit. To further assist in producing zero, or substantially reducedcontact within the device, the inner diameter of the double screwhousing and the outer diameter of the double screw units are matchedthroughout the parallel dimensions of the two components so that anycontact is eliminated or substantially reduced when the discharge end ofthe double screw is so centered and secured.

In another aspect, as described, a multi-pronged, e.g., in anembodiment, a substantially cross-like, support device for the dischargeend of such double screw units is presented herein. The support devicecenters and connects the double screws to the double screw housing tosecurely space the double screw units apart from the surrounding doublescrew housing so as to align the two to fully avoid or substantiallyreduce contact between any portion of the outer diameter of the doublescrew units and the inner diameter of the double screw housing. In suchan embodiment, the cross-like support segment includes a substantiallyvertical first cross portion with top and bottom halves configured tofit into notches or similar receptacle areas located at the top andbottom of the discharge end of the double screw housing for their secureplacement. In this embodiment, the cross-like support segment alsoincludes a substantially horizontal second cross portion with first andsecond lateral side portions, each of which defines a bore at a positionfacing a, e.g., center hole of the discharge end of each of the doublescrew units for the insertion of a bolt. Shouldered bolts or otherfasteners for securing the cross-like support into such center holes ofthe discharge end of each of the double screw units can be part of thesecurement ensemble or provided separately.

In another aspect, the multiple screw/double screw units-screw housingcombination as disclosed herein has a housing unit in which thepreviously fully cylindrical exterior portion of the housing has cut orcarved out exterior portions that provide for a substantially lighterhousing and screw-housing combination, yet one which retains the same orsubstantially similar durability and longevity given the same use andmaterial as conventional screw/screw housing combinations.

In this aspect, an ergonomically designed multiple screw or mixerhousing as previously described herein has an overall substantiallycylindrical body with a substantially cylindrical internal bore intowhich multiple screws or mixer units are fit into during operation andan exterior portion, with open areas at each end of the housing. Theexterior portion of the housing has a top and bottom section along itslongitudinal axis. On the top side, an orifice connecting to a foodhopper may be present through which foodstuff of one type or another isintroduced from the food hopper to the food mixer housing. This orificecan be located at other points along the exterior portion of the housingto permit entry of foodstuffs into the housing for purposes of mixingbetween and by the multiple screws. Also, on the top portion of theexterior portion of the housing, rather than a fully cylindricalsurface, e.g., between the orifice and each end of the housing exterior,the surface can have cut-outs such as ones having a scalloped orscooped-out appearance to provide a reduced, but ergonomically curveddimension so as to have substantially less overall thickness and mass,but remains of sufficient thickness to provide durability and longevityof use substantially equivalent to a conventional fullycylindrically-shaped top portion of a food processing housing.

In another aspect, the exterior of the above-mentioned housing has abottom portion, and rather than a fully cylindrical surface, the surfaceof the bottom portion also has cut-outs, such as having a doublescalloped or scooped-out appearance so that the bottom exterior can havetwo scalloped or scooped-out portions, e.g., ones meeting at a linearpoint or area, so that the bottom exterior portion also has a reduced,but ergonomically curved, dimension so as to have substantially lessoverall thickness, but which also remains of sufficient thickness andconfiguration to provide durability and longevity of use substantiallythe same as a largely conventional fully cylindrically-shaped bottomportion of a food processing housing.

In another aspect, a method for centering and securing the essentiallyzero contact multiple/double screw-screw housing units in a vacuumfiller, which includes or is linked to a vacuum filler operator isprovided. The method includes the steps of placement of a discharge endof a multiple/double screw inside the same end of a screw housingdimensioned so that the inner diameter of the screw housing and theouter diameter of the multiple/double screw unit are matched throughoutthe parallel dimensions of the two so that any contact is eliminated orsubstantially reduced when the discharge end of the multiple/doublescrew is centered and secured by a multi-pronged, e.g., cross-likesupport segment. In the multi-pronged support embodiment employing across-like support, the segment includes a substantially vertical firstcross portion with top and bottom halves designed to fit securely intonotches located at the top and bottom of the discharge end of the screwhousing. The cross-like support segment also includes a substantiallyhorizontal second cross portion with first and second lateral sideportions, each of which defines a bored hole for the insertion of abolt.

The left and right bored holes of the horizontal second cross portionare configured to align with mated holes at the center of the dischargeend of each of the screws/screw units. Thus, shouldered bolts or otherfasteners, as described above, slide securely both into the laterallyspaced bored holes of the cross-like support segment and into the matedholes at the center of the discharge end of each of the screws.Accordingly, this method serves to center and secure the screws insidethe screw housing, aiding in providing substantially zero, or at leastsubstantially reduced, metal to metal contact between the screw unitsand the screw housing prior to use for food processing. Once theshouldered bolts or other fasteners are screwed or otherwise locked intoplace, the shouldered bolts and related centering ensemble serve tocompletely prevent or substantially minimize the outer diameter of thescrew unit from rubbing against the inner diameter of its screw housing.After these are fully secured, the vacuum filler operator linked to thefiller is then turned to its on position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The presently disclosed subject matter will be better understood fromreading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, withreference to the attached drawings, wherein below:

FIG. 1 is a top side perspective illustration of an embodiment of anessentially zero contact double screw plus double screw housing unitaccording to the disclosure in which the cross support and centeringsegment and shouldered bolts have been installed and also showing a viewof the top of the housing in which portions of the generally cylindricalouter surface have been removed.

FIG. 2 is an exploded close up view showing the various components atthe discharge end of the essentially zero contact double screw plusdouble screw housing unit of the embodiment of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an exploded top side perspective of theembodiment of FIG. 1 in which the alignment of the shouldered bolts, thecross-like support segment, and the discharge end of the double screwunit is shown as it will be housed inside the discharge end of thedouble screw housing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The foregoing summary, as well as the following description illustratesthe disclosure by way of example and not by way of limitation.Additionally, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limitedin its application to the details of construction and the arrangementsof components set forth in the following description or illustrated inthe drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Asapparent in the drawings, unless stated otherwise, the parts numberedfor one illustration are intended to correspond to the same numberedparts throughout the drawings.

As discussed above, in a standard prior art screw plus screw housingcombination, the useful life for these key parts of a vacuum filler,portioning, and packaging apparatus is significantly diminished by theconstant rubbing and metal upon metal fatigue these parts undergo.

As noted above, portioning devices can have multiple portioning screw orworms. However, these are usually present as entwined “double screws”,and that terminology will be used throughout the detailed descriptionsas representative of multiple, e.g., triple- or quadruple-screwportioning devices. Accordingly, as seen in FIG. 1 , the combinationdouble screw plus double screw housing unit 100 consists of two rotatingscrews (the double screw 200) fitted fairly snugly inside the doublescrew housing unit 300. The double screw consists of a large,left-handed screw 210, and a large right handed screw 220 in which thescrew shanks 230 of the double screw 200 are intimately entwined aroundeach other inside the housing unit 300 in a substantially continuousdouble-curved fashion and rotate within the housing unit 300 to portion,mix, extrude and process various foodstuffs.

The double screw housing 300 is a substantially cylindrical, typicallyone-piece stainless-steel sleeve 310 dimensioned to slide into acylindrical slot in a vacuum filler device (not shown). The double screwhousing also consists of a through bore 320 in which the double screw isinserted so that food portions can be dropped into or vacuum-pulledthrough a funnel-like chute into the section of the vacuum filler'sdouble screw housing containing an opening 330 accessing the doublescrew such as to allow the food material to be processed as a drive 400rotates the double screw 200 and moves the food being processed, mixed,extruded and/or packaged out the discharge end 340 of the double screwhousing 300.

The curved shank 230 of each of the two halves (screws) of the doublescrew 200, and their housing unit 300 as a whole, are arranged in asubstantially horizontal direction in relationship to the vacuum fillermachine as a whole (not shown). As the mixing and filler machineprocesses the foodstuffs, parcels of food are dropped or pulled byvacuum pressure through an entrance hole or opening 330 into the housingunit 300 and are mixed and massaged into a predetermined processedconfiguration before extrusion.

As previously noted, the double screw 200 has previously been supportedinside the double screw housing 300 solely by a centering pin 240, whichcan be located on the end of the drive, as shown, or on the drive end250, i.e., the end of the double screw that attaches to the drive 400.Given the close contact and the parts' ongoing interaction, such asupport system has not proven to be sufficient to prevent the outwarddirected force provided by the outer diameter of the double screw 200constantly rubbing against the inner diameter of the double screwhousing 300 and thus generating constant friction between these twoparts resulting in chronic wear and a reduced useful life of theseparts.

As depicted in the Figs., Applicant discloses an improved double screwplus double screw housing unit system 100 which provides for anessentially zero contact, no, or substantially reduced, frictionalinteraction between the double screw 200 and a highly ergonomic,substantially lighter double screw housing unit 300. It thus effectivelyovercomes the above deficiencies of prior combination doublescrew/double screw housing units, substantially improves the useful lifeand functionality of these parts, and completely avoids or substantiallyminimizes the fatigue and failure issues previously discussed. Giventheir central role, these innovations improve the long-term operation ofthe food processing and packaging apparatus as a whole.

In an embodiment, the double screw 200 and double screw housing 300combination device 100 as provided includes a multi-pronged supportsegment 500 (see FIG. 5 ) at the discharge end 260 of the double screwunit 200 which serves to connect the double screw 200 to the doublescrew housing 300 to support and space the double screw unit 200 apartfrom the surrounding double screw housing 300. The multi-pronged supportsegment can be dimensioned to have a cross-like support segment 500 butcan have other dimensions of attachment or numbers of prongs forattachment to provide the functional spacing and support as envisionedherein. Representatively, hereinafter, the multi-pronged support segmentwill be described as a cross-like support 500 and includes asubstantially vertical first cross portion 510 with top 510 a and bottom510 b halves to fit snugly into notches 301 a and b located at the topand bottom of the discharge end 340 of the double screw housing 300. Thecross-like support segment 500 includes a substantially horizontalsecond cross portion 520 with first 520 a and second 520 b lateral sideportions, each of which defines a bore 530 a, 530 b for the insertion ofa bolt. Shouldered bolts 600 or other such fastener parts are securedinto the bore at the discharge end through each of these holes 530 a,b.In turn, at the center of the discharge end 260 of each of the handedscrews 210, 220 of the double screw 200 is a mated hole 260 a,b for acorresponding lateral hole 530 a, 530 b of the cross-like support 500.

Thus, the shouldered bolts 600 slide both into and through the laterallyspaced bored holes 530 a, 530 b of the cross-like support 500 and intothe mated holes 260 a, 260 b at the center of the discharge end 260 ofeach of the left and right-handed portions 210 and 220 of the doublescrew 200. Accordingly, this combination serves to center and secure thedouble screws inside the double screw housing, aiding in providing zero,or at least substantially reduced, metal to metal contact between thedouble screw unit 200 and the double screw housing unit 300. To furtherassist in producing zero, or substantially reduced contact within theseimportant parts of the device, the inner diameter of the double screwhousing and the outer diameter of the double screw unit may be precisionmachined to be matched throughout the parallel dimensions of the two sothat any contact is eliminated or substantially reduced when thedischarge end of the double screw is so centered and secured.

In another aspect, a multi-pronged, preferably substantially cross-likesupport and centering device 500 for installation at the discharge end260, 340 of a double screw/housing unit 100 is presented herein. Thesupport device 500 can be used to center and connect the double screw200 to the double screw housing 300 to securely space the double screwunit apart from the surrounding double screw housing so as to align thetwo to fully avoid or substantially reduce contact between any portionof the outer diameter of the double screw and the inner diameter of thedouble screw housing. As discussed above, the cross-like support segment500 includes a substantially vertical first cross portion 510 with top510 a and bottom 510 b halves configured to fit snugly into notches 301a, 301 b or similar receptacle areas located at the top and bottom ofthe discharge end 340 of the double screw housing 300 for their secureplacement. The cross-like support segment 500 also includes asubstantially horizontal second cross portion 520 with first 520 a andsecond 520 b lateral side portions, each of which defines a bore 530 aand 530 b at a position facing a center hole of the discharge end 260 ofeach of the double screw halves 210, 220 for the insertion of a bolt orother fastener. Such shouldered bolts 600 or other fasteners forsecuring the cross-like support into the center holes of the dischargeend of each of the double screw portions can be part of the cross-likesecurement ensemble 500 or provided separately.

A standard double screw housing 300 is a fully cylindrical, heavy(generally 60-70 pounds), one-piece stainless-steel piece, dimensionedto slide into a cylindrical slot in such a vacuum filler food processingdevice.

The preferred housing 300 of the disclosure, like a standard housing,also includes an internal, substantially cylindrical, through bore 320throughout its length, above which food portions are dropped through afunnel-like chute or hopper (not shown) into the housing 300, and intowhich the double screw unit 200 has been inserted to substantially fillits length so that the section of the foodstuff filler's double screwhousing 300 containing an opening, or orifice 330 accessing the doublescrew 200 is such as to allow the food material to enter and beprocessed. In an embodiment of the disclosure, a drive motor 400 rotatesthe left and right-handed, preferably entwined, double screws 210, 220to move the food being processed, mixed, portioned and/or packaged outthe discharge end 340 of the double screw housing 300.

While the above features of a screw housing for use in combinations ofscrew-screw housing components may be the same or similar to standarddouble screw housings, the present disclosure preferably differssignificantly in being characterized in having a much more ergonomic,lighter weight housing 300, which allows for easier handling andcleaning for sanitation purposes after each of its regular and ongoinguses.

Referring to the Figs. described above, the preferred ergonomic doublescrew-screw housing of the disclosure contains cut-out portions inexterior portions 360 of the housing 300 (see FIGS. 1 and 3 ).

Like a conventional double screw housing, the preferred ergonomicallydesigned housing 300 has a substantially cylindrical through or internalbore 320 throughout the length of a substantially cylindrical internalportion 350 into which the double screw can fit into and an exteriorportion 360, with an open area at the drive end of the housing 300 forinsertion and attachment of the double screw unit 200 to the drive 400,and at the discharge outlet 340 (for the now processed foodstuff) of thehousing 300. Also, in a preferred embodiment, in the exterior 360 of thehousing, rather than a fully cylindrical surface, e.g., between theorifice 330 and each end of the housing exterior, the surface has cutouts, preferably substantially scalloped or scooped-out sections 370 toprovide for an ergonomically curved, dimension so as to havesubstantially less overall thickness, volume and mass, but which remainsof sufficient thickness, volume and mass to provide durability andlongevity of use the same or similar to a substantially conventionalcylindrically-shaped food processing housing.

It should be noted that in preferred embodiments, areas of the exteriorportion 360 remain as flanges or reinforced portions, e.g., around thescrew insertion openings, the discharge end 340 and the orifice 330 ofthe housing 300.

In another preferred alternative embodiment of the disclosure, anergonomically designed double screw housing 300 has a substantiallycylindrical internal bore 320, but wherein the internal bore 320 of thehousing has two somewhat overlapping internal, cylindrical bores 320 a,320 b, so as to have the combined appearance of the outline of afigure-eight. In this aspect, the figure-eight appearing internal bore320 a, 320 b is substantially form-fitted for two interleaving helicallyshaped double screws 210, 220 to closely fit together within.

Typically, and preferably, according to the disclosure, the curvature ofeach of the multiple, scalloped or scooped-out areas of the housing willhave an external taper machined to a dimension pre-calculated and/orpre-tested to facilitate durability and longevity of service, yet whichmake for a substantially lighter weight, ergonomic construction. Thisergonomic feature has been shown to be effective in substantially allsizes of double screw housings. Similarly, typically, and preferably,according to the disclosure, the curvature of each of the scallopedportions located on the top portion of the housing will also have anexternal taper machined to a dimension pre-calculated and/or pre-testedto facilitate durability and longevity of service, yet which can makefor a much lighter, ergonomic construction. Depending on the ergonomiccurvature employed (and the material used to construct the housing), aweight-reduction of greater than 25% can be achieved, preferably greaterthan 30%, still more preferably greater than 35%, yet more preferablygreater than 40%, and yet still greater than 45%, compared to a housingwhich is of the same material, but does not employ any of the ergonomicscalloped/scooped-out curvatures as demonstrated in the disclosureherein.

In preferred embodiments, the double screws and double screw housings ofthe disclosure are designed and built using stainless steel due to itscorrosion resistance properties. Alternative materials can be utilized,however, and enjoy a similar reduction in weight and increased longevityof use advantages comparative to double screw-double screw housings ofthe same material, by utilizing the principles as described herein. Forexample, the material used to construct the double screw-ergonomicdouble screw housing could be changed to a cast-iron material, as usedin some prior standard housings, or to a ceramic/alloy matrix, ifdesired, for certain uses. Other types of materials will no doubt beintroduced as new technological embodiments are introduced.

To install the securement and centering segment to provide for theessentially zero contact double screw-ergonomic double screw housingunits in a vacuum filler, e.g., in the illustrated embodiment, the abovedescribed cross-like securement ensemble is attached at the dischargeend 260 of the double screw 200 inside the same end 340 of the doublescrew housing 300. These are preferably dimensioned so that the innerdiameter 350 of the double screw housing 300 and the outer diameter 270of the double screw unit 200 are precisely matched throughout theparallel dimensions of the two so that all contact is eliminated orsubstantially reduced when the discharge end of the double screw 200 iscentered and secured by the addition of the cross-like support segment500 as described. The top and bottom halves 510 a,b of the verticalfirst cross portion 510 the cross-like support segment can be fittedinto notches or small securement locks, or devices located, e.g., at thetop and bottom of the discharge end of the double screw housing.Further, the left and right bores 530 a,b of the horizontal second crossportion are placed in alignment with the mated holes 260 a,b at thecenter of the discharge end 260 of each of the double screw portions.Thus, shouldered bolts 600 or other fasteners, as described above, areinserted to slide snugly through both the laterally spaced holes 530 a,bof the cross-like support segment 500 and into the mated holes 260 a,bat the center of the discharge end 260 of each of the double screwportions 200. See FIG. 3 . Thus, this method serves to center and securethe double screw inside the double screw housing, thereby providing forsubstantially zero metal to metal contact between the double screw andthe double screw housing.

As mentioned above, the centering and securing segment may be formed asanother multi-pronged segment besides the cross-like segment describedhere, but its method of attachment and its use to center and secure thedouble screw and ergonomic double screw housing in essentially zerocontact juxtaposition would substantially apply these steps and approachusing a multi-pronged segment and fasteners to center and secure thedischarge ends of the screw and housing units in a juxtaposition thatprovides for essentially zero contact between them.

Thus, once the shouldered bolts are screwed or otherwise locked intoplace, the shouldered bolts and related centering ensemble serve toessentially prevent the outer diameter of the double screw from rubbingagainst the inner diameter of the double screw housing. After these arefully secured, the vacuum filler operator linked to the filler is thenturned to its on position to operate the machinery in a friction-freemanner.

Alternatives can be provided with regard to various components of theabove secured and centered double screw/ergonomic double screw housingsystem, cross-like support and centering apparatus and ensemble, and themethods as described above. These alternative embodiments and others maybe introduced as such new embodiments are introduced. For example, asmentioned, the shape of the multi-pronged, cross-like support segmentmay be changed to another configuration as long as adequately securesupport and friction-free centering are thereby still provided and thefunctioning of the discharge end of the double screw and housing unitsis not significantly interfered with as a result. Also, the materialused to construct the ensemble can be changed due to manufacturing orcost efficiency considerations, or for considerations such as thoserelating to longer use or better sanitation, e.g., to match the natureof the foodstuffs being processed in some regard.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved, and other advantageous results are obtained. Asvarious changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multiple screw and screw housing combinationsystem comprising multiple screw portions for mixing foodstuffs and ascrew housing for containing the multiple screw portions when in use,the multiple screw portions, and screw housing each having a drive endand a discharge end, the multiple screw portions having one or moreholes at the discharge end and the screw housing having one or morenotches or securement points at the discharge end of the screw housing,a multi-prong support segment at the discharge end of the multiple screwportions and screw housing which connects and secures the multiple screwportions to the screw housing to support and space the multiple screwportions apart from the surrounding screw housing when in use in aconfiguration to reduce or eliminate contact between the outer surfaceof the multiple screw portions and the inner surface of the screwhousing, the multi-prong support segment comprising at least a firstsection with first and second portions configured to fit into notcheslocated at substantially opposite segments of the discharge end of thescrew housing, and at least a second section also with first and secondportions, the second section also defining holes for the insertion of afastener, such as a shouldered bolt, the fastener being configured to besecured through one of the holes of the multi-prong support segment andinto a mated hole in the discharge end of one of the multiple screwportions.
 2. The multiple screw and screw housing combination system ofclaim 1 wherein the multiple screw portions comprise a double screw, thedouble screw comprising a left and a right handed double screw havingholes at the discharge end of each of the left and right handed screw ofthe double screw and the double screw housing having notches orsecurement points at the top and bottom of the discharge end of thehousing, and wherein the multi-prong support segment comprises across-like support segment, the cross-like support segment comprising afirst cross portion with two halves configured to fit into notcheslocated at substantially opposite ends along the discharge end of thescrew housing, and a second cross portion with first and second sidesdefining holes for the insertion of the fasteners.
 3. The multiple screwand screw housing combination system of claim 1 wherein the innersurface of the screw housing and the outer surface of the multiple screwportions are machined to substantially match and align throughout theirparallel dimensions to eliminate or substantially reduce any frictiontherebetween when the discharge end of the double screw is so centeredand secured by the multi-prong support segment.
 4. The multiple screwand screw housing combination system of claim 1 wherein the screwhousing has an ergonomic exterior portion, wherein said ergonomicexterior portion is configured to provide for a substantially lighterhousing than a fully cylindrical housing exterior portion yet retainssubstantially the same durability given the same usage and materialcomposition as for an otherwise comparable fully cylindrical housing. 5.The multiple screw and screw housing combination system of claim 4wherein the exterior portion has top and bottom sections along alongitudinal axis of the screw housing, and on the top section, ratherthan a fully cylindrical surface, the surface has one or more carved outsegments forming a scalloped or scooped-out appearance to provide anergonomically curved dimension so as to provide for substantially lessoverall thickness, volume and mass, but of sufficient thickness and witha configuration to provide durability of use to a comparablesubstantially fully cylindrical exterior portion.
 6. The multiple screwand screw housing combination system of claim 4 wherein the exteriorportion has top and bottom sections along a longitudinal axis of thescrew housing, and on the bottom section, rather than a fullycylindrical surface, the surface has one or more segments having ascalloped or scooped-out appearance to provide for a reduced, butergonomically curved dimension so as to have substantially less overallthickness, volume and mass, but remains of sufficient thickness and witha configuration to provide durability of use of a comparablesubstantially fully cylindrical exterior portion.
 7. The multiple screwand screw housing combination system of claim 2 wherein the internalbore of the screw housing has two overlapping internal, substantiallycylindrical bores.
 8. A multi-prong support segment for use at dischargeends of multiple screw portions and screw housing combinations in foodprocessors, which connects and secures the multiple screw portions tothe screw housing to support and space the multiple screw portions apartfrom the surrounding screw housing when in use in a configuration toreduce or eliminate contact between the outer surface of the multiplescrew portions and the inner surface of the screw housing, themulti-prong support segment comprising at least a first section withfirst and second portions configured to fit into notches located atsubstantially opposite segments of the discharge end of the screwhousing, and the multi-prong segment having at least a second sectionalso with first and second portions, the second section defining holesfor the insertion of fasteners, such as shouldered bolts, the definedholes being configured such that the fasteners can be secured throughthe defined holes of the multi-prong support segment and into matedholes in the discharge end of one of the multiple screw portions.
 9. Themulti-prong support segment of claim 8 wherein the multi-prong supportsegment comprises a substantially cross-like support device, wherein thecross-like support segment comprises a substantially vertical firstcross portion with top and bottom halves configured to fit into thereceiving notches and the cross-like support segment further comprises asubstantially horizontal second cross portion with first and secondlateral side portions, each of which defines a bore at a positionaligned to face a hole of the discharge end of a left handed or righthanded screw of a double screw for the insertion of a bolt or otherfastener configured for securing the cross-like support into holes atthe discharge end of each of the left and right handed screw of thedouble screw.
 10. A method for securing essentially zero contactmultiple screw-screw housing units together in a vacuum filler linked toa vacuum filler operator, each having a discharge end, the methodcomprising the steps of placing the multiple screw unit inside the screwhousing so that the discharge end of the multiple screw unit is in closeproximity to the discharge end of the screw housing unit, wherein theunits are dimensioned so that the inner surface of the screw housing andthe outer surface of the multiple screw unit are substantially matchedthroughout the parallel dimensions of the two so that any contact iseliminated or substantially reduced when the discharge end of themultiple screw unit is centered and secured by a multi-prong supportsegment, the multiple screw unit having holes at the discharge end andthe screw housing having notches or securement points also at thedischarge end of the screw housing, attaching a multi-prong supportsegment at the discharge end of the multiple screw unit and screwhousing to connect and secure the multiple screw unit to the screwhousing to support and space the multiple screw unit apart from thesurrounding screw housing when in use in a configuration to reduce oreliminate contact between the outer diameter of the multiple screw unitand the inner diameter of the screw housing, the multi-prong supportsegment comprising at least a first section with first and second halvesconfigured to fit into notches or securement points located at oppositesegments of the discharge end of the screw housing, and at least asecond section having first and second halves, the second sectiondefining holes for the insertion of fasteners, such as a shoulderedbolts, the fasteners being configured to be secured through one of theholes of the multi-prong support segment and into a mated hole in thedischarge end of each of the multiple screw units.
 11. The method ofclaim 10 wherein the multiple screw-screw housing units are left andright-handed double screw-screw housing units and the discharge end ofthe double screw is centered and secured to the screw housing unit by across-like support segment, the cross-like support segment comprises asubstantially vertical first cross portion with top and bottom halvesdesigned to fit into notches or other securement points located at thetop and bottom of the discharge end of the double screw housing and thecross-like support segment further comprises a substantially horizontalsecond cross portion with first and second lateral side portions, eachof which defines a left or a right bore for the insertion of a fastenersuch as a shouldered bolt, the left and right bore of the horizontalsecond cross portion are configured to align with mated holes at thedischarge end of each of the left and right handed screw of the doublescrew and the screw housing.